Skip To Top Navigation Skip To Content Skip To Footer
Business students working on laptop

Business in Sports Specialization

Your playbook for success in the sports industry

Sports are more than just the game—they’re about the business too! Learn how to manage, market, and promote sports teams and events with Marian’s Business in Sports specialization. 

Why you should choose the business in sports specialization 

College graduates who can plan, manage, budget, market, and lead sports organizations are increasingly in demand. With a major in accounting, business analytics, finance, management, or marketing and a specialization in business in sports, you can more narrowly define your career interests/goals and be even more marketable upon graduation. 

  • Because Marian also offers programs in exercise science, health and physical education, physiology of exercise, and sport performance, you’ll find athletics are an integral component of the teaching and learning environment on our campus. 
  • With a business in sports specialization, you’ll have the option of completing an  additional internship in the sports field to gain a first-hand perspective about operations. 
  • Thanks to our Indianapolis location, you’ll have access to internships with sports franchises like the Indianapolis Colts, Indiana Pacers, Indianapolis Indians, Indiana Fever, Indy Eleven, and the Indy Fuel. You might work at locations like NCAA headquarters, the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Lucas Oil Stadium, or Victory Field. And you might help plan and manage major sports events like Big Ten and Final Four events, swimming and diving championships, or golf tournaments. 

What you’ll learn

Your coursework will include explorations of sport in relation to the corporate world as well as sports marketing and operations. You’ll learn the fundamentals of leadership and motivation in sports, how to plan and manage sponsorships, developing successful athletic events, and sports law. You’ll study sport in relation to social factors like race and gender. 
 
To complete our 12-credit business in sports specialization, you’ll complete courses such as: 

Career paths in business in sports

Whether it’s behind the scenes at a major league game or running events in your own community, the Business in Sports specialization gives you the tools to thrive wherever sports and business meet: 

  • College or university athletic departments 
  • Professional and amateur sports organizations 
  • Athletic facilities and venues 
  • Sports marketing and PR firms 
  • Media and broadcasting operations 
  • Sporting goods manufacturing, including retail and e-commerce operations 

Specific functional roles might include: 

  • Sponsorship and ticket sales director 
  • Facility manager 
  • Fan experience, loyalty, safety, security, or customer service director 
  • Data management, including sports analytics, statistics, and information 
  • Agent, business manager, talent scout, or coach 

According to the U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), employment in entertainment and sports occupations is projected to grow by 10 percent through 2026, faster than the average for all occupations. The increasing popularity of sports will drive this growth.